Professional Sports Writing and Broadcasting

Study options

Award

BA (Hons)

Key facts

Location:
Stoke-on-Trent campus
Study option:
Full-time, two-year accelerated, blended learning
Duration:
24 Months
Start date:
School:
School of Digital, Technologies and Arts

Expert Teaching Team

Our academics have a wide variety of experience in the world of sports media and PR

Top 5 for Journalism

Guardian League Tables 2020, Journalism, Publishing & Public Relations

Blended Learning

A combination of on-campus and distance learning in a blended format

The course is taught by 'Blended learning' which means some of your studying will be done away from the University – online, and closely supervised by your module tutors - and can be moulded around your existing professional commitments.

You will be taught via a combination of traditional on-campus learning and online virtual learning environments.

In addition, there are two week-long Intensive Study Weeks – or Summer Schools – which take place in June at the start of your First and Second Levels which have a heavy emphasis on broadcast journalism and during which you will be taught firstly the basics of good broadcast journalism followed by the more advanced techniques of content production.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: BA (Hons) Professional Sports Writing and Broadcasting

Course content

Professional Sports Writing and Broadcasting is the first degree specifically designed for sports professionals. The course helps prepare you for future, alternative careers after retirement.

For many professional sportsmen and women, the question of what to do when their career is over becomes a burning issue. Our Professional Sports Writing and Broadcasting degree is a fast-track, two-year course designed to apply your experience and expertise to a media career in print, broadcast and web.

The course has been designed to give you a real hands-on experience of working in the media as a professional writer, broadcaster and/or pundit.

The demand for multi-skilled, multimedia journalists in today’s ultra-competitive media market remains high. The journalist who can combine the skills of producing content for newspapers, magazines, radio, television and online is the journalist of the future.

BA (Hons) Professional Sports Writing and Broadcasting

BA (Hons) Professional Sports Writing and Broadcasting

Video

Join our Journalism lecturer Tamsin as she takes you behind-the-scenes on our BA (Hons) Professional Sports Writing and Broadcasting degree.

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Entry requirements

Applicants must be sports professionals, who will be recruited, in most cases, through the award leader’s involvement with professional sports representative bodies. The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) is the major portal for potential students to learn about the award, through visits and talks to sports organisations, e.g. clubs, by the award leader.

  • Applicants will have formal interviews with assessment of English skills where applicable. 

  • Applicants with no formal qualifications will be assessed using a written test formulated by the journalism teaching team.

  • Applicants under 21 (in line with the university's general requirements) must have the equivalent of 2 A levels or AVCs or BTEC National Diploma in a media related subject.

  • International applicants must have a minimum overall IELTS score of 7.5. An interview and written assessment (delivered online) may be required to assess candidate suitability.

  • Students may be considered for Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning (i.e. credits gained in prior study, work based training, substantial employment or other experiential learning).

The recruiting tutor will be looking for evidence of knowledge and understanding not just of sport itself but, more pertinently, sports media operations, and real ambition to succeed in these demanding and highly competitive careers.

We understand that you might have experienced a challenging run up to higher education and may have not met the entry requirements as listed. If this is the case don’t worry, contact us and our team of expert advisors can guide you through the next stages of application, or help you find the perfect course for your needs.

Facilities

Careers

Graduates from our journalism courses go on to work in sports PR, newspapers, agencies and digital sports media outlets. Those who decide not to pursue a career in the media apply their transferable skills within sectors such as teaching and marketing.

All students have access to Career Connect, our dedicated careers team.

Teaching and assessment

Learning support

In addition to the excellent support you will receive from your course teaching team, our central Academic Skills team provides group and one-to-one help to support your learning in a number of areas. These include study skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills); written English (including punctuation and grammatical accuracy); academic writing (including how to reference); research skills; critical thinking and understanding arguments; and revision, assessment and examination skills (including time management).

Additional support

Our Student Inclusion Services support students with additional needs such as sensory impairment, or learning difficulties such as dyslexia.

Year 1

13% of time in lectures, seminars or similar
77% of time in independent study
9% of time in work based learning

Year 1

9% practical assessments
82% coursework
9% written exams

Staff

Ian Bayley

Senior Lecturer

.Ian is a Senior Lecturer and an award leader for the BA (Hons) Professional Sportswriting and Broadcasting degree. He previously worked in Sports PR, Sports Journalism and News Journalism

Ian's profile

Matthew Smith

P/T Lecturer (Hrly) - Journalism

Matt joined Staffs, on a part-time basis, in 2020 and has been passing on his experiences and expertise to our students. One of the country’s most prominent sports broadcasters, Matt is the face of BT Sport’s European football and cricket coverage.

Matthew's profile

Simon Humphreys

P/T Lecturer (Hrly) - Sound & Comms

Simon has extensive experience as a reporter and editor for BBC, Talksport and local radio.

Simon's profile

Ian Whittell

Lecturer

I am course leader for the BA and MA Sports Journalism Awards and also still an active national sportswriter, as founder and director of one of the country’s leading independent freelance sports editorial agencies.

Ian's profile

Fees

UK and Channel Island students: This tuition fee is agreed subject to UK government policy and parliamentary regulation. If the UK government passes appropriate legislation, the fee for subsequent years of study may increase in each academic year. But this increase will not exceed the rate of inflation as measured by RPIX**. Any change in fees will apply to both new and continuing students. The University will notify students of any change as early as possible. Further information about fee changes would be posted on the University’s website once this becomes available.

**RPIX is a measure of inflation equivalent to all the items in the Retail Price Index (RPI) excluding mortgage interest payments.

Included in the fees:

Travel, and accommodation costs incurred by compulsory trips and visits away from the University that are directly linked to the learning requirements of a specific module.
Not included in the fees:

The estimated cost of text books over the duration of the course. All essential text books are available from the library, but some students chose to purchase their own copies.

Travel, subsistence, entrance fees etc. incurred by optional trips and visits away from the University related to the course.
Accommodation and living costs

Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

For more information on accommodation and living costs, please see: Accommodation

Sources of financial support

If you receive funding from Student Finance you may be eligible to apply for additional benefits. Details can be obtained by visiting: www.gov.uk

Scholarships and additional funding

As an undergraduate student at Staffordshire, you may be eligible for additional financial support through one of our scholarships and bursaries. You can visit our funding page to find out more and check your eligibility.

Apply

Applications are currently unavailable.

Rules and regulations

If you are offered a place at Staffordshire University, your offer will be subject to our rules, regulations and enrolment conditions, which may vary from time to time.

Students of Staffordshire University enter into a contract with us and are bound by these rules and regulations, which are subject to change. For more information, please see: University Policies and Regulations.

Have you considered?

Sports Journalism BA (Hons)

Study options
Full-time
Foundation year
UK University

StudentCrowd University Awards 2022

for Job Prospects

StudentCrowd University Awards 2022

for Student Satisfaction

Complete University Guide 2022

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

for Course Content

StudentCrowd University Awards 2022

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021